Vision Problems From Ozempic, Other GLP-1 Drugs May Result From Rapid Correction of Hyperglycemia: Study

Recent concerns over vision loss and similar problems linked to diabetes and weight loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro may not be caused by the injections themselves, but by the body adjusting to the lower blood sugar levels, a group of researchers are theorizing.

Concerns about Ozempic vision loss problems first emerged in early July 2024, when a study by Harvard researchers found that patients using semaglutide may face a seven fold increased risk for experiencing sudden vision changes, blurred sight, blindness or other symptoms linked to a rare condition known as non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), where the optic nerve suffers from insufficient blood flow.

Those findings were then confirmed in a study published in medRxiv last month, leading the Danish Medicines Agency to issue a press release days later, announcing that it is officially requesting an investigation into Ozempic NAION risks by the European Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC).

However, in a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology on January 30, a research team from the University of Utah Health suggests that it may be impossible to establish a causal link between the class of medications and the types of vision loss being seen.

The research team, led by Dr. Bradley J. Katz, conducted a retrospective case study on vision complications linked to the use of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk’s popular Ozempic and Wegovy, and tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro and Zepbound.

The small study looked at vision issues found in a total of nine different patients, seven of whom were diagnosed with NAION, one patient with bilateral papillitis, and one patient with paracentral acute middle maculopathy.

“In this case series study, it was not possible to determine if there is a causal link between these drugs and the ophthalmic complications reported,” the researchers concluded. “In some cases, it is hypothesized that rapid correction of hyperglycemia induced by these drugs, rather than a toxic effect of the drugs, could be associated with the ophthalmic complications reported.”

GLP-1 Drug Lawsuits

The increasing concerns about vision problems from Ozempic and Wegovy come as lawsuits over gastrointestinal risks associated with the entire class of medications continue to move forward in the federal court system.

Given common questions of fact and law raised in gastroparesis lawsuits filed on behalf of users of Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound, Victoza and Trulicity, a federal Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) has been established before U.S. District Judge Karen S. Marston in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

As part of the coordinated management of the pretrial proceedings, Judge Marston has directed the parties to focus in the early stages of the litigation on “cross cutting” issues, which will impact a large number of claims. This includes an evaluation of the general causation evidence about the link between Ozempic and gastroparesis, ileus and other injuries, as well as questions about whether the claims are preempted by federal law and whether plaintiffs will be required to provide specific testing evidence to establish they suffered an injury.

Following the resolution of those issues, Judge Marston is expected to direct the parties to select representative lawsuits for early bellwether test trials, to help gauge how juries will respond to evidence and expert testimony likely to be repeated throughout the litigation.

While the outcomes of such early test trials are not binding on other claims, they could help potentially facilitate an Ozempic settlement agreement that would avoid the need for each individual case to be set for trial in the future.